Sports Analytics Undergraduate Certificate Program

UNC Charlotte offers the first Sports Analytics program in the Carolinas

All current UNC Charlotte undergraduates are eligible to enroll in the SA Certificate. Graduate students and post baccalaureate students are not eligible. Students must first be enrolled in an undergraduate program at UNC Charlotte in order to enroll in the Sports Analytics Certificate.

The University’s School of Data Science and College of Health and Human Services has introduced an undergraduate Certificate in Sports Analytics. This certificate was created for students who want to combine a career in sports analytics with their chosen major. It benefits students interested in learning and applying regression analysis and data visualization in a sports-based context. This certificate also requires twelve credit hours to complete, and consists of three core classes/nine credit hours and one elective course/three hours. This program will equip students for careers in the intriguing and rapidly growing field of sports analytics.

Students who wish to declare the certificate should complete this form.

Sports Analytics in the News

The Sports Analytics program has been featured not only on our own social media, but also on the WBTV news channel! A few videos below show some highlights of a class doing a mock NFL draft and students traveling to London for a soccer analytics competition.

Carolina Hurricanes Analytics Challenge

SDS Students Compete in the Stats Perform Opta Forum Conference in London

Mock NFL Draft featured on WBTV News

Partnerships

Partnerships: APHCS and the SDS

This program grew out of an interdisciplinary partnership between the School of Data Science and the Applied Physiology, Health, and Clinical Sciences department.

APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY, HEALTH, AND CLINICAL SCIENCES

Our mission is to promote optimal health and well-being by encouraging life-long movement and activity in a variety of populations through scholarly research, teaching and service.
APHCS offers degree programs in Exercise Science and Respiratory Therapy, as well as master’s degree programs in Kinesiology, Athletic Training, and Respiratory Care.

THE SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE AT UNC CHARLOTTE

The School of Data Science (SDS) at UNC Charlotte is an industry–university partnership, led by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Belk College of Business, the College of Health and Human Services, the William States Lee College of Engineering and the College of Computing and Informatics.

Certificate vs. a Minor?

An undergraduate certificate is built around a set of professionally oriented courses designed to provide recognition that the student has completed coursework in an applied area of focus. For degree-seeking students, a certificate program may either complement or be concurrent with a traditional program of study. The certificate appears on the official transcript.

University Catalog: Sports Analytics, Undergraduate Certificate.

Admissions

To be admitted into this certificate program, students must already be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the university. In addition, students must have completed the following:

Statistics Course – STAT 1220, STAT 1221, or STAT 1222 with grade of C or above
Basic Programming Course – INFO 2130, INFO 3221, or ITSC 1110 with grade of C or above

Other courses may be accepted upon review. Students from all majors on campus are welcome to apply for admission.

Curriculum

The curriculum is built around a core of three analytics courses and one elective option. The electives below are a sample of courses.

Analytics Courses (9 credit hours) – Required

DTSC 1110 – Sports Analytics (3)
EXER 4115 – Undergraduate Research Methods in Applied Physiology, Health, and Clinical Sciences (3)

And either:

EXER 3900 – Undergraduate Research (1 to 3) (must be taken for 3 credit hours)

DTSC 3400 – Sports Analytics Practicum (Charlotte Athletics or Summer with Panthers/Hornets/Charlotte FC) (3)

Elective Course (3 credit hours)- Select one of the following:

DTSC 2110 – Sports Business Analytics (3)
EXER 2333 – Baseball Through History and Playing I (1800s-1947) (3)
EXER 2334 – Baseball Through History and Playing II (1947-Present) (3)
EXER 3100 – Organization and Administration of Exercise Science (3)

Faculty

John Tobias

Sports Analytics Program Director; Lecturer, School of Data Science

Paving the way for data science students in the field of sports analytics

In December 2020, the School of Data Science welcomed John Tobias as a lecturer and full-time faculty member.

He has ten-plus years of experience in sports statistics and analytics, as well as a very deep and broad knowledge of analytics across multiple sports. He was one of the first statisticians in the country to implement analytics in the sports television industry, also known as advanced statistics. Tobias also creates scripts for ESPN broadcasters to help explain to the viewers about sports analytics for the games they cover.

Tobias teaches courses in sports analytics and will be serving as an academic advisor for the school’s new undergraduate program.

During the summer, Tobias runs four week-long camps throughout the country geared towards high school aged minority groups. Formally known as Strength In Numbers, the camp had its first successful run in 2022.

The full list of School of Data Science faculty can be found here.

FAQS

What is the difference between a certificate, minor and major?

To learn more about the differences, please click here.

What courses do I have to take for this program?

Please refer to the program catalog for this information.
University Catalog: Sports Analytics, Undergraduate Certificate.

I have already earned a Bachelor’s degree. Can I come back to obtain this certificate?

Students with completed bachelor’s degrees are not eligible for this certification.

Will there ever be a sports analytics certificate for graduate students?

The School of Data Science is interested in offering sports analytics at the graduate level in the future, but we do not have concrete plans or an official launch date at this time.
Although the University is making a lot of effort to do so, it will be long before a graduate program in sports analytics is approved.

Which sports organizations work with students in this certificate program?

Currently, we partner with the Charlotte Football Club (MLS), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the Carolina Panthers (NFL), and ESPN.